Impact of successive sets of high-intensity leg press on cerebral hemodynamics across menstrual cycle phases.

Abstract

This study examined how successive sets of high-intensity leg press (LP) resistance exercise impact the cerebral pressure-flow relationship in untrained males and eumenorrheic females not taking oral contraceptives and assessed how the menstrual cycle (MC) phase influences the cerebral pressure-flow relationship and cerebral hemodynamics (middle cerebral artery blood velocity, MCAv; via transcranial Doppler ultrasound) during and after LP exercise in females. Young adults (11M;11F) performed three sets of leg-press exercises at 90% of their one-repetition maximum. Data from males and females in the early follicular phase were pooled together. Directional sensitivity of the cerebral pressure-flow relationship was calculated as the ratio of the rate of changes in MCAv and mean arterial pressure (MAP) (ΔMCAv_T/ΔMAP_T) per transition between eccentric and concentric muscular contractions during each repetition of LP exercise. ΔMCAv_T/ΔMAP_T was higher during concentric than eccentric phases (P < 0.001) in males and early follicular (EF) phase in females. There were no effects of successive leg press sets on any systemic or cerebral hemodynamic measures. The MC phase affected directional sensitivity and cerebral hemodynamics, with greater responses in the mid-luteal (ML) phase than the EF phase. We observed a MAP direction by MC phase interaction on relative directional sensitivity, with greater sensitivity during concentric contractions in the ML phase (P = 0.02). Our results suggest that successive sets of LP exercises do not impact the cerebral pressure-flow relationship or cerebral hemodynamics during and immediately following LP exercise. The MC phase appears to influence the cerebral pressure-flow relationship and cerebral hemodynamics both during and following LP exercise, mediated by vasoprotective effects of increased estrogen concentration in the ML phase compared with the EF phase.NEW & NOTEWORTHY Successive sets of high-intensity bilateral leg press exercises do not appear to affect cerebral or systemic hemodynamic measures, given adequate recovery time. The menstrual cycle phase impacts the directional sensitivity of the cerebral pressure-flow relationship during high-intensity bilateral leg press exercises. During high-intensity bilateral leg press exercises, the cerebrovasculature appears to be more pressure passive in the mid-luteal phase of the menstrual cycle.